The Rev. Joseph Pax, 85, died April 14, 2007, at Kindred Hospital, Dayton, of injuries sustained in a traffic accident Jan. 8.

He was born June 18, 1921, in Celina, to Leo and Gertrude Jenniges Pax.

Surviving are two brothers, Robert (Dorothy), St. Henry, and Ralph (Mary Lou), Mason, Mich.; and two sisters, Lucille Bub, San Diego, Calif., and Trudy Pax, Sauk Center, Minn.  

Deceased are two brothers, Roman and Maurus; and a sister, Esther Winhoven.

He was ordained May 15, 1947, at St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, and spent two years as a priest in Missouri, Pennsyvania and Detroit. He then served at Brunnerdale, a high school seminary in Canton, where he taught Latin for more than two decades. He also served there as director of brothers and vice-rector, and in 1972 was named chaplain at St. Rita's Hospital, Lima.

He returned to parish ministry in 1973 as pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minister, and later at St. Rose Catholic Church and St. Henry Catholic Church. In 1994, he became chaplain for the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, Dayton, before retiring to St. Charles Center, Carthagena, in 2001.

Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Charles Center, the Rev. Angelo Anthony officiating. Burial is at St. Charles Cemetery.

Calling is 1-5 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday at the center. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Arrangements were handled by Hogenkamp and Sons Funeral Home, Coldwater.